The tours usually consist of a diverse group of walkers of all ages, many who have travelled from oveseas to experience Scotland close to nature. 

Most tours will have a maximum of 10 people per Leader with up to 15 on the longer distance trails where a Support Manager is also in attendance.

The tours have a wide appeal to walkers of all nationalities. English is the common language used but some of our Leaders have linguistic skills in the more commonly used languages such as French, German and Spanish.

Tours are arranged and managed to suit mainly adult walkers who have a good standard of fitness however accompanied children are welcome subject to a similar pre-booking check on age and level of fitness.

The availability icons run left to right and become active as the tour bookings increase.  A more accurate check can be made by either emailing or telephoning the Polmont Office. 

We recommend booking as soon as possible. Group sizes are relatively small and can fill up quickly especially during the summer months. Late bookers often find their choices extremely limited. On hotel and guest house based holidays we strongly recommend booking more than 8 weeks in advance to ensure that we are able to provide the accommodation as advertised. If booking later, we may have to provide alternative accommodation for you if the advertised accommodation is already reserved.

All tours are subject to minimum numbers,  It is advisable to book as soon as possible in the assurance that should the minimum number not be achieved by 8 weeks before the tour start date your deposit will have the choice of an alternative tour or your deposit returned in full.  

Please refer to our Booking Terms and Conditions for up to date information on our cancellation policy.

It is advisable to refrain from making any non refundable travel arrangements until you receive your final tour confirmation. If you wish to book flights etc before this point please contact our office for advice.

On hostel based tours accommodation is shared and no single rooms are available. On hotel and guest house based tours a limited number of single rooms are available, subject to a supplement.  If you require a single room it is strongly recommended to  book well in advance.

No, we have group membership so it is not necessary for you to take out your own membership.

Yes, if you book more than 6 weeks in advance on a guest house/hotel holiday and are prepared to share a room (with a person of the same gender) we will not charge you the single room supplement. If booking later than 6 weeks we may have to charge you the supplement if we do not have another member of the group who is prepared to share.

Individual tour itineraries (sent out with your booking confirmation) provide information on what options are available for your chosen trip. On most tours it will be possible to obtain evening meals at a local hotel/restaurant within easy reach of your accommodation however on a very few trips it may be necessary to participate in the making of your own meals using self-catering facilities.

The tour itinerary will always advise where this is the case. Self-catering facilities are available at all hostels if you prefer this option and extend this practice to the preparation of your own packed lunches (bring items with you for the first few days).

If staying at hotels or guest houses, you will normally be able to obtain a packed lunch from the accommodation provider.

Half board means that breakfasts and evening meals are included but not lunches.

Full board means that three meals a day are included in the price of your tour i.e. breakfast, packed lunch and an evening meal. 

We will send you an equipment list when you book a tour. 

Please bring with you all items that are listed as essential.  Items such as boots and waterproofs (trousers as well as jackets) are absolutely essential.

A survival bag is a large person sized strong polythene bag. In the unlikely event of an incident occurring and having to wait for assistance, you can get inside the bag to avoid losing body heat.

It is standard practice to always carry a survival bag when walking in Scotland and we would consider this to be an essential item.

They are inexpensive (from any outdoor shop) and could save your life.

Unless your holiday itinerary specifically states that you need a sleeping bag (e.g. camping trips), it is not necessary to bring one. On hostel holidays sheet sleeping bags and duvets are provided and in most hostels you will not be permitted to use your own sleeping bag.

Provided you are healthy and fit enough to participate in the tour programme this should not be a problem. If you have any doubts please speak to your doctor and we do ask that you advise the group leader of your condition at the outset of the tour.

If you anticipate needing access to medical services during your tour please ask our Polmont Office for advice, as many trips are in remote areas where the nearest doctor/hospital may be a few hours drive away. Likewise you should bring with you any medications you may need, as access to chemist shops/pharmacies may not be readily available.

All of our tours are graded therefore please refer to our grading information for a general description of what is involved in terms of distance and terrain.

Yes, all our leaders have considerable personal experience of leading walking groups in Scotland.

All hold a recognised qualification (eg: Mountain Leader or Walking Group Leader) appropriate to the tour they are leading in addition to a current First Aid Certificate.